Finding Furriester

Michigan's mascot should clearly be a giant middle finger named "Tradition." Imagine the photographs. This won't happen, though, because I've triple-trademarked the idea and will only sell it for one million dollars.

We'll have to crowdsource it, then. The Detroit News is way ahead of us, having already launched a contest and announced a winner, which is a werewolf in the #1 jersey. Braylon says this aggression will not stand.

Your options:

VARIOUS WINGED-FACE AMBIGUOUSLY GAY FURRIES

It's like a normal mascot except the winged helmet is part of its head. Except for the one where it isn't, and that one doesn't even have a tail.

Pros: Ammunition for 4chan. Slight possibility meme launched. If actually named "Furriester" I will die laughing.

Cons: This is why you picked Michigan, so you could go to a sporting event without thinking of… the incident. It all comes rushing back now: one night in Venice with hairy thighs and scratch marks and shame imprinted on your soul. Shame deeper than the catacombs, broader than the sea, shame you ran and ran and ran from until you stopped, panting, in Ann Arbor.

I guess that's it, then. Time to buy some whiskey and a gun.

HELLO WOLVERINE

DO YOU LIKE FOOTBALL I LIKE FOOTBALL TOO I JUST WISH THEY WOULDN'T BE SO MEAN I LIKE NICEBALL WHICH IS LIKE FOOTBALL EXCEPT INSTEAD OF HITTING SOMEONE YOU GIVE THEM A LOLLY

PIG… WEREWOLF… CHEERLEADER… GUY

Pros: Block M on nose is consistent with branding initiative. May be able to lead locomotive cheer.

Cons: Is hideous interspecies mule that only wants two things: a Michigan victory and the sweet release of death.

CAT… DOG… CHEWBACCA… THING

Even its big weird clown shoes have teeth.

Pros: Seems happier about its status as a genetic outcast, at least. Downright jolly. Good at comforting: "yeah, we just lost to Ohio State for the million time in a row, but all of your chromosomes have matches! I wish I was so lucky."

UNDEAD BIFF

What's even friendlier than a live wolverine in a cage at a football game? A zombie version thereof.

Pros: Would forever end discussions about who has the manliest mascot in all the land. Forces band to play "Thriller" every home game. May distract Joe Paterno from games against Penn State as he seeks elusive zombie bestiality romance.

Cons: Zombie bestiality romance. 110,000 people plus one rabid zombie biting machine is pretty much asking for a zombie apocalypse. In the aftermath survivors would walk around screaming "we didn't listen."

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT, OR GENIUS?

If I had a pirate ship, this would be its flag.

Pros: It's original. I kind of want to put in in the store minus the lawyer-baiting block M. Could lure Mike Leach to campus to be the OC.

Cons: It's original because it is a Jolly Roger flag with a block M and a wolverine skull instead of, you know, a mascot. Unless it was Marvin Riedel's intent to make a Michigan mascot that was entirely notional, which… whoah. I'm feeling all deconstructed.

THE WINNER

Pros: Remove the eyes, pretend she's female, and call her "Emmy." I wouldn't even be mad about this. If Michigan had a giant, armless walking M accidentally smashing into cheerleader pyramids it would be awesome.

We could always make the sept 17th game with Eastern the official play like a pirate football game. Regardless of the outcome of the mascot search, I say we make this flag and use for each football game that is closest to the "talk like a pirate day".

The entire collection was actually pretty good! I was just making more a blanket statement. And really, I feel the attempted humor also made a serious point in that any attempt to formulate some kind of Wolverine Mascot, will work out just as well as the Hindenburg (and piss off the fan base, unless they're Bieber fans, then they'd probably love the Hello Wolverine one. :) )

Fake throwback jerseys are essentially advertising for the company that makes them, but they're not just in the stadium, they're on the players.

I dislike any losses to OSU, but it's not like the series is 124-14 UM (although that would be fun), so obviously there have been losses before, even if not in such a long string. Besides, the way things are going, most of those will end up vacated anyway.

Forget the all-time series record. We're talking seven consecutive losses to OSU. That means multiple senior classes have now never beaten them. How can any of the other things on the list be worse than that? Those are like getting bitten by a mosquito. Losing to OSU is a root canal without novocaine.

I've chased eight kids off my lawn this week alone . . . and yet, I kinda like the Werewolf in the #1 jersey. I could be into it.

The beauty of the anthropomorphic Block M if it comes to pass is that someone can dress up in the Block M costume and then YES DAVE BRANDON, LITTLE KIDS CAN HAVE THEIR PICTURES TAKEN WITH A BLOCK M. So bite me.